Draft-rigging and support therefor.



W. P. BETTENDORP, DEGD.

J. w. BETTBNDORY, ADMINISTRATOR. DRAFT RIGGING AND SUPPORT THEREFOR.

APPLICATION IILED JUNE 6, 1908 1,072,300, Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

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WILLIAM P. BETTENDORF, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA; J. 11V. BETTENDORF ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID WILLIAM P. BETTENDORF, DECEASED.

DRAFT-RIGGING AND SUPPORT THEREFOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Yntcn'ted Sept. 2, 1591.3.

Application filed June 6, 1908. Serial No. 437,193.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM l ]iI YL"l.l 1N- pour, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft ltiggings and Supportlherefor, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptiou.

My invention relates to draft-rigging for cars and the support therefor, which a re particularly applicable to cars the underfralnes of which employ a single rolled metal beam center-sill.

The object of my invention is to provide a draft-rigging which can be inserted and retained in a suitable longitudinal opening in the ends of the single rolled metal beam constituting the ccntcr-sill, which will impart the pulling strain of the car-coupler, to the center-sill through the medium of deviccs that reinforce the end portions of the center-sill, and prevent the spreading of the divisions or bifurcations thereof, substantially as hereinafter fully described, and as particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the end portion of an underframe for cars having my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on dotted line 2, 2, Fig. 1. Fig. is a horizontal section of a fragment of said draft rigging, including the rear end portion of the drawbar of the carcoupler.

Referring to the drawings A. represents a single center-sill, consisting, preferably, of an I-beam having a portion of its web cut away longitudinally, a distance extending from the ends thereof (which are attached in suitable manner to the end-sill B) to a point corresponding to the rear end of the housing in which the springs of the draft rigging are seated, substantially as herein after fully explained. Removing the ends of the web of the center-sill in this manner leaves an upper bifurcation a whose forward extremity is connected to the end-sill B by means of suitable castings a", and a lower bifurcation (4 whose forward end rests and is secured upon a ledge I), made by flanging the central portion of the lower horizontal part of the rectangular cast metal frame C, which is provided with an opening below the plane of the center-sill back through which the draw-bar D of the car-coupler extends. The draw-bar of the coupler extends longitudinally into the space or guide-way made by cutting away this web, which guideovay is increased in height commencing at a point adjacent to the rear end of the draw-bar and extending throughout the remainder of its length to its end ilarthest from the cnd sill. The web of the center-sill, at the rear end of this guide-way is l'OdHfOJUOil on each side by plates E, the (amstruction of which is substantially the same as the cm'rcs umding plates of the draft rigging described and claimed in an application. for Letters latent of the United States, filed by me May 23, 1908, and numbered lfil hGGf), and the longitudinal edges of this guide-way are reinforced by a substantially U-shaped binding strip (Z of angle-iron, the ends of which terminute about midway the length of the narrower portion of the guide-way, and the bend of which extent s around the back of the roar SOlIll-Cllfllllill' end of plates I l. This biiuilingstrip (Z is so arranged and riveted to the web of the ccnler-sill that the horizontal flange thereof projects laterally in the plane of the edges of said guide-way and provides a broad surface which assists in supporting and guiding the movement of the parts of the draft-rigging, as will hereinafter be more fully described. The rear part of the guide-way is occupied by a housing 2, which contains the springs 3, and consists of a tubular easing, which, preferably, is square in cross-section, and has its rear closed end, l, bear against the forward edges of reinforcing plates E, and has its forward end open. This housing is retained in position by brackets 5, which latter are secured by rivets or bolts to the vertical portion of the angle-iron binding-strips (Z, below the guidcway K, and their npturned ends continr and prevent the lateral displacement of the housing. The length of housing 2 is less than that of the wider rear portion, K, of the guide-way, and in the space between its forward end and the shoulders at the forward end of said wider portion, K, a lniiling-block (3 is placed that consists of a substantially rectangular casting of su'tlicicnt thickness, and is kept normally in engagement with the rear end of the drawbar D, by the pressure of springs 2'3, through the medium of a suitable follower-plate 7' and eccentrically jonrnaled caiu-bloeks S and 9, journaled and operating within the forward portion of the housing, substantially as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The follower-plate, 7, fits and slides in the bore of the housing and is directly engaged by the springs, and the cam-blocks are located between said follower-plate and buffing plate.

The bufling-plate is provided with laterally projecting upper and lower lugs 10, 10, on each side, that normally bear forward against the vertical portion of a rectangular frame or yoke 12, which latter surrounds the bufling-block, and consists of two substantially corresponding sections, the upper and lower ends of each of which are bent inward and, preferably, conform to the shape of and are secured by rivets or otherwise to the upper and lower flanges of the center-sill. The inner edges of these yokesections are flanged to increase the engaging surfaces thereof bearing against the center-sill and the bufling-block, and it is through these flanges that the rivets or bolts are passed.

A short distance from its rear end, the

sides of the draw-bar are, preferably, built out or provided with bosses and said rear end is also provided with a transverse opening, which, preferably, passes through said bosses and forms a seat for a transverse bar or key 13, whose ends project beyond the sides of the draw-bar a suitable distance. The vertical sides of the housing are, preferably, in the same vertical plane as the outer surfaces of the bosses just referred to, and said housing, at about its center of length and in the same horizontal plane as the key 13, is provided with laterally projecting trunnions, 14L, which latter are con nected by links 15 with the projecting ends of the key 13. Openings 16 in the forward ends of the links (through which the ends of the key pass) are elongated longitudinally to permit the links to have a slight forward movement, or, the draw-bar to have a slight rearward'movement independent of the links and the bodies of said links pass between the lug 10 of the buffing-block and their rear ends are inimovably connected to and move with the housing at all times.

In operation, when a pushing motion is imparted to the car-coupler, it moves to the rear independently of the links 15, for a short distance, and, through the buffingblock and rolling cam-members 8 and 9, slightly compresses the springs 3, which latter neutralizes the shock and imparts the strain through the rear end of the guideway to the center-sill, until the ends of the 7 key come in contact with the rear end of the openings 16 of the links 14, whereupon the bufiing strain is imparted direct to the housing of the spring and through it direct to said center-sill. When the draw-bar is sub- 8 and 9, the buffing-block 6 and the rectangular' yoke or frame 12, until the limit of the forward compression of the springs is reached, or until said springs compress sufficiently to resist the pulling strain. The

rectangular yoke or frame 12 not only constitutes the medium through which the pulling strain of the coupler is imparted to the center-sill, but it also combines and ties the upper and lower bifurcations of the ends of the center-sill together, and gives greater rigidity and strength to the ends of the sill where most needed.

hat I claim as new is r 1. In a, car the combination with endsills and a single metal beam center-sill, the ends of which are connected to said endsills, and which has a portion of its web between its edges cut away to form a continuous space or guide-way extending fro-m its ends to a point beyond the rear ends of the springs, a draw-bar extending longitu dmally intosaid guide-way, springs actuated by said draw-bar, means secured to sald center-sill for retaining said draw-bar in place within said guide way and devices in cluding said springs for transmitting the strain of the pull of said draw-bar to the center-sill. v r

2. In a car the combination with end sills and a single metal beam'center-sill, the ends of which areconnected to said endsills, and which has a portion of its web between its edgescut away to form a contia nous space or guide-way extending from its ends to a pointbeyond the rear-ends of the springs, a' draw-bar ext-ending longitudinally into said guideway, springs acesated by said draw-bar, means for retaining said draw-bar in place within said guide-way and follower abutment means connecting the upper and lower bifurcations of said sill for transmitting the strain of the pull'of the draw-bar to the center-sill.

3. In a car the combination with endsills and a single metal beam center-silhthe ends of which are connected to said end-sills, and which has a portion of its web between its edges cut away to form a continuous space or guide-way extending from its ends to a point beyond the rear ends of the springs, a draw-bar extending longitudinally into said guide-way, springs cooperating :with said draw-bar, means for retaining said drawbar in place within said guide-way and a. v

frame surrounding said center-sill and connecting the upper and lower bifurcations thereof for transmitting the pull of the draw-bar to the center-sill.

4. In a car the combination with end-sills, and a single metal beam center-sill the ends Cir of which are connected to said end-sills and which has a portion of its web between its edges cut away to form a continuous space or guide-way extending from its ends to a point beyond the rear ends of the springs, of a draw-bar extending into said guide-way, a butler-bloek engaging the draw-bar having laterally projecting lugs, springs for pressing said butter-block forward, and means for retaining said draw-bar in place in said guice way and means engaged by the lugs of said butler blocic for transmitting the pull of the draw-bar to the center-sill.

5. ln a car the combination with end-sills, and a single metal beam center-sill the. ends of which are connected to said end-sills and which has a portion of its web between its edges cut away to form a continuous space or guide-way extending from its ends to a point beyond the rear ends of the springs the edges of which guideway are provided with lateral flanges, of a draw-bar extending into said guide- 'ay, a butter-block engaging the drmv-bar, having laterally projecting lugs, springs tor 'n'essing said butter-block for ward, and means for retaining said drawbar in place in said guide-way and means engaged by the lugs of said butter-block for transmitting the strain of the pull of the draw-bar to the center-sill.

G. In a car the combination with end-sills, and a single metal beam center-sill the ends of which are connected to said end-sills and which has a portion of its web between its edges cut away to form a continuous space or guidc-way extending from its ends to a point beyond the rear ends of the spriiigs, ot a draw-bar extending into said guide-way, a butter-block engaging the drawbar having laterally projecting lugs, springs for pressing said butter-block forvl'ard, a suitable housing for said springs, and means for retaining said draw-bar in place in said guideway, and means engaged by the lugs of said limiter-block for transmitting the st am of the pull of the draw-bar to the center-sill.

7. In a car the combination with end-sills and a single nletal beam center-sill the ends of which are connected to said end-sills and which has a portion of its web between its edges cut away to 'liOtlll a continuous space or guide-way extending from its ends to a point beyond the rear ends of the springs, of a drau bar extending into said guide'way, a lnrllenblock engaging the draw-bar having laterally projecting lugs, springs for pressing said butter-block forward, and means lor retaining said draw-bar in place in said guide-way, and distinct means engaged by the lugs of said lurll'er-bloek for transmitting the strain of the pull of the draw-bar to the center-sill.

8. In a car the combination with end-sills, and a single metal beam center-sill the ends ot which are connected to said end-sills and which has a portion of its web between its edges cut away to form a continuous space or guide-way extending from its ends to a point beyond the rear ends of the springs, of a draw-bar extending into said guide-way, a bulier-blmrlt engaging the dr: 1\vba r, having laterally proyeeting lugs, springs tor pressing said bull'tw-bloclt forward, and means for retaining said draw-bar in place in said guideavay, and a frame surrounding said centensill and connecting the upper and lower bifurcations and engaged by the lugs of said butler-block for transmitting the strain oil the pull of the draw-bar to the centersill.

9. A, draft rigging for cars comprising a single center-sill having a continuous longitudinal transverse opening extending from its ends past the location of the springs a (lliHVd'Nll retained within said openings, devices including said springs for cushioning the same, and a member adjacent to the end of said draw-bar and exterior to the thrust of the same :[or connecting the bifurcations oil said opening.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 7th day of April, A. 1)., 1908.

WILLIAM P. Bll'lTENDORF.

Witnesses G. S. THOMPSON, E. K. Lonny.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). G. 

